The destination of Marčana abounds with ponds – small water habitats created by natural or anthropogenic means. In the past, people built and/or maintained them to ensure a sufficient amount of water for their livestock and irrigating fields, and for their own needs. The water from the ponds was also used to extinguish fires. The bottom of the pond is made of impermeable material, usually clay, and regular feeding of livestock and cleaning of the pond ensured that the bottom remained compact and did not grow into vegetation.

Some ponds in our area are walled with stone drywall, and some, such as Ciganica and Rulja, have access to the water with stairs. Ponds enrich the landscape appeal of the area and are an indispensable part of the tradition of Istrian rural areas.

Although intended primarily for human use, ponds are small important habitats for numerous plant and animal species. Plant species that need the constant presence of water grow in them, they provide shelter for numerous species of animals that need water for their life cycle (frogs, kingfishers, numerous insects, crayfish and others).

More than 40 ponds have been registered in the destination, most of which are difficult to access or have been covered over. However, about 10 ponds are more easily accessible, marked with tourist signage and in very good condition: they have plenty of water and are an active habitat for plant and animal species. These are the puddles Kalić and Mandalena in Marčana, Puč in Cokuni, Rulja in Rakalj, Vrulja near Krnica, Pavićini in Pavićini, Kašalver in Kavran, Ciganica in Filipana, Lokva and Lakuć in Loborika and Glavica in Radeki Glavica. In as many as four locations, strictly protected plant or animal species were recorded: small water lentil (Wolffia arrhiza) at the Puč pond in Cokuni, small green dragonfly (Lestes virens) and eastern willow maiden (Lestes parvidens) and kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) at the Vrulja pond. Frogs and tree frog (Hyla arborea) at the Kalić pond in Marčana.

According to some estimates, there are around 1,000-2,000 ponds in Istria today, but many of them are left to decay. By gradually abandoning the traditional way of animal husbandry and regular maintenance, ponds are naturally overgrown with vegetation and gradually disappear. In addition, ponds are threatened by human activities, many are buried with waste material or repurposed for other purposes (parking lots, landfills, etc.). Sometimes, out of ignorance, people “beautify” ponds by introducing foreign species into them – fish, water lilies, etc. This actually accelerates the process of their deterioration, because the fish will eat the natural inhabitants of the ponds, and the decorative flowers will suppress native species.